Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Deep End

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

203 reviews

lillianreads's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

stephanie_co's review against another edition

5.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My new favorite Ali Hazelwood book!!
There is obviously spice, but the people saying there's a lot I'm sorry but they don't even kiss until maybe 100 pages into the book...
I actually felt this was such a realistic portrayal of BDSM or kink exploration, both characters are young and inexperienced when it comes to this type of relationship. I thought it was well written, and they both explored in a way that made full sense. Don't expect a gun's blazing exploration of BDSM, it's very tame in comparison to other such books.
As for the characters, I'm normally not a fan of two aloof characters but this one worked because they were open to each other!! Also if you LOVE communication, this one's it-- even when the FMC struggled to express herself there was no doubt about whether the MMC understood or not.
As for them as individuals I really liked them, the FMC and her struggles were totally relatable.
I did not LOVE the whole Pen situation, but honestly they all communicated well especially Lukas so I was fine with it.

Content Warnings

linora's review against another edition

2.0

emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I normally like Ali Hazelwood's books, but this just wasn't very good. For something trying so hard to be scandalous and provocative, it was just boring.

The male lead has no personality and is literally just a body who occasionally told her what to do in the bedroom. We are forced to live inside the female leads head, where her anxious internal monologuing gets pretty grating almost immediately.

They have a sexual relationship that is outlined in a contract, but they have no chemistry, no yearning. There was no romance.

The B and C plots were either resolved in the laziest way possible (ie "I did a thing I couldn't do before, because I did, I guess") or weren't resolved very well (ie, "my friend treated me poorly and disrespected my relationship but she's my very nice best friend!"). Ali Hazelwood's STEM B plots are usually pretty solid, so idk what was going on here.

Big miss for me. Disappointed because I normally really enjoy her books.

Content Warnings

goldensisyphus's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

mj_86's review against another edition

5.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

fiwwa's review against another edition

3.75

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

enjoyed the second half more than the first, it was funnier and had a slightly better flow but the unnecessary drama neat the end made it lose its charm again. I didn't really feel any connection with the characters, I get that they were in a private relationship but it felt so private that even I, the reader, couldn't really see it. the romance didn't hit the same way as in ali's other books. that said, I lived for the adamolive cameo thanks ali for at least getting that part right.

Content Warnings

perfumedpossum's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In a perfect world I would’ve given this five stars and would’ve never had to read about the character “Pen”, who was the literary equivalent of a gravel on my shoe. The trigger warnings made me think this book was gonna be way kinkier than it was. I’m a sucker for books where the guy falls first and our MMC was down bad from the get-go. Lukas is the perfect guy and I really wish we could’ve gotten his POV too. I listened to the audiobook and Ben Holtzmuller did a wonderful job voicing him. Therese Plummer really gave life to the confidence issues Scarlett was experiencing and her hesitation in realizing her feelings.
“From the very start, you had all the power. From the very start, I was in the palm of your hand” took my BREATH away and I could forgive a multitude of sins for a man who said things like that.
Like I said before, my only complaint was with the friend drama that felt unnecessary at times. Honestly the only part that reminded me this is a college romance. Definitely no complaints about the spicy parts 🔥🔥🔥 And my BABIES Adam and Olive got a cameo 💕

Content Warnings

chelsealistens2books's review against another edition

3.75

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Deep End 🏊🏼‍♂️ 💦 Yes I listened to it, so let’s dive right in! (get it?!) I really loved Lukas and so hope @alihazelwood gives us a deluxe edition with some of his point of view! Scarlett suffered some childhood abuse, bullying and is still a loner even at Stanford. Lukas is so perfect for her and her insecurities that most of us women can relate to. I personally wish this was spicier (you can look up all the controversy on Booktok and social media). I wanted them to complete their list! It was also a slow burn to me. Yes they talk about sex but nothing happens until chapter 25. Always read TWs before you listen to or read a book. Love the cover too 😉 so whet!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️.5
🎧🎧🎧.5

Content Warnings